Published June 2007 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Making Wise Investments for America It is time to roll up my sleeves and go to work once more for West Virginia in the Senate Appropriations Committee. This month, the committee, which I lead, will begin to write the federal funding bills for the next fiscal year. These bills are crucial for our state and this nation. The decisions that the Appropriations Committee makes will set the pace for America's progress. The first bill to come before my committee will help to secure this country from terrorist attack. There are too many gaps in our protections. Cargo is not checked for explosives before being loaded on airplanes. The northern and southern borders remain far too wide open. Critical infrastructure sites, like chemical plants and power facilities, are far too vulnerable. Police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical teams still do not receive the equipment and support that they need to meet the realities of the times. We need to address these major gaps in homeland security. The federal government must not just pay lip service to protecting our citizens. It is long past time to invest the dollars in the security of this country. If we do not, American lives will continue to be needlessly at risk. The second piece of legislation that will come before the Appropriations Committee is one that pays for the medical care for our veterans. During the past several weeks, Senator Rockefeller and I have heard from West Virginia veterans about the quality of their medical care. One fact is clear: there are not enough doctors and nurses to handle the medical needs of our veterans. With wounded heroes coming home from war every day, and with veterans of past conflicts already standing in long lines for treatment, we must invest in their care. Make no mistake, there are tough choices ahead. The list of pressing funding demands across the country seems to be endless, but the resources are not. We need to wisely invest the people's money to ensure a brighter future for the nation. As these bills move forward, I will update you on their progress. The lives of people in West Virginia will be directly affected by the choices that the Appropriations Committee makes. Jobs, health care, security, education, worker training and safety -- all of these issues are shaped by the appropriations bills. I will continue to do all that I can to build a brighter future for our state and to create new opportunities for generations of Mountaineers to come. June 6, 2007